Chinese Five Color
The Chinese Five Color pepper is a vibrant heirloom Capsicum annuum cultivar known for its small conical fruits that display a rainbow of colors—purple, cream, yellow, orange, and red—simultaneously on the compact plant. Native to China, these hot peppers are both ornamental and edible, offering sweet-earthy flavor with building heat.
The Chinese Five Color pepper is an heirloom variety of Capsicum annuum featuring diminutive conical pods measuring 1 to 2 inches long that taper to a rounded point. The smooth, glossy, waxy skin transitions through a striking spectrum of colors as the fruits mature: beginning deep purple when young, shifting to cream or white, then yellow, orange, and finally brilliant red at full ripeness, with all five hues typically present on the same plant at any given time. The flesh is moderately thick, crisp, and aqueous, surrounding a central cavity filled with cream-colored seeds. Plants are compact and upright, reaching 2 to 3 feet in height and 1 to 2 feet in width, with green foliage often accented by purple veins and stems. Despite its ornamental appeal, the peppers are fully edible and deliver a sweet, bitter, and earthy flavor profile followed by moderate to intense heat that builds quickly but dissipates without lingering. This dual-purpose cultivar is ideal for colorful displays in gardens or containers while providing versatile culinary applications.
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Backstory
Heirloom variety believed to originate from southern China (Guangdong and Fujian provinces), descended from chile peppers introduced from Central and South America by Spanish and Portuguese explorers. Prized for its striking rainbow of colors on a single plant, serving dual ornamental and culinary roles.
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Sweet, bitter, and earthy flavor followed by an intense heat that dissipates quickly.
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